predicts female orgasm (guys, get your note pads!). We report a partial list of factors known to be associated with female orgasm: having a mate who is relatively symmetrical, 11 physically attractive, 12 and earns a high income; 13 clitoral stimulation, particularly via cunnilingus; 14 and feeling happy in your marriage, or otherwise being in a stable, long-term, and committed relationship. 15 Conversely, many things interfere with female orgasm. The primary culprits include using drugs (nicotine and anti-depressant medication), being overweight, having cardiovascular disease or poor body image, feeling guilty, thinking sex is dirty or sinful, having low testosterone, being distracted, self-conscious, or anxious, and not focusing on the pleasurable, physical sensations associated with sex. You may notice that all of these predictors of “female sexual dysfunction” are located, perhaps unfairly, within the woman. None refer to the qualities, characteristics, or sexual techniques of the men with whom these women are having sex. Moreover, discussions of female orgasm often erroneously assume that women
should
orgasm as rapidly, readily, and regularly as men.
So, what is the function of female orgasm? Why do women orgasm at all? Several evolutionary explanations have been advanced in response to these questions. Hypotheses include female orgasm as a functionless byproduct of male orgasm, the hedonic hypothesis, the paternity confidence hypothesis, the paternity confusion hypothesis, and the sperm-retention hypothesis. We focus on the Mr. Right hypothesis, because it is most relevant to our arguments and is relatively well supported empirically.
A key premise of the Mr. Right hypothesis is that the occurrence of female orgasm is uncertain and unpredictable. Some women never or rarely experience orgasm; others experience orgasm easily and regularly. Importantly, there is substantial variability within women in their likelihood of experiencing orgasm, as a function of sex partner and relationship context. Women may orgasm powerfully with one man and have great difficulty experiencing orgasm with another man. Moreover, the same woman may vary in her sexual response to the same lover, as a function of her current relationship satisfaction. According to the Mr. Right hypothesis, female orgasm functions as a signal that helps women select and retain the best (most caring, sensitive, devoted) mate and dad and/or select the highest-genetic-quality father for her children. From this perspective, a man’s ability to bring a woman to orgasm reflects his standing on various dimensions relevant to his being a desirable long-term mate and/or his being a good genetic catch, in terms of health, strength, and masculinity.
Now consider the conditions likely present during the filming of a porn movie, as experienced from the perspective of a female porn star. The director shouts, “Lights! Camera! Action!” There are numerous, possibly dozens of, people in the room. Someone drops a cup of coffee. The director yells, “Cut! Start over with ‘Give it to me baby’.” There is no privacy.There is a camera in your face and one between your legs.You have to remember your lines.You have to maintain the correct and likely very uncomfortable position so the camera angles are just right. A light bulb goes dead. Again, the director yells, “Cut! Take it from ‘Oh Gary, I’ve always
dreamed
of having sex with you and your buddy Steve’.”There is no moonlight piercing through the window; there is no whispering of sweet nothings.There is no soft music or scent of jasmine wafting through the air. Except for when Gary is a pizza-delivery guy arriving with dinner in tow, there is no gift or offering to signal his ability and willingness to invest. Importantly, there is little to no foreplay or emotional context. In sum, Gary is not depicted as the kind of guy who would be Mona’s, or many women’s, Mr. Right.
Unfortunately, we